January 10, 2012

Doubling 2011's estimate of 150,000 tonnes, Indonesia's Maritime and Fisheries Ministry has set an ambitious target for shrimp exports at 300,000 tonnes this year.

The export value is expected to reach US$2 billion, up from US$1.2 billion, fishery product processing and marketing director General Victor P.H. Nikijuluw said.

"We are optimistic to reach the target as shrimp will remain the export prima donna in 2012," Nikijuluw said.

Total value of fishery exports including shrimp exports was estimated at US$3.2 billion in 2011 as in the first 10 months of that year exports already reached US$2.8 billion.

"The government encourages processing of fresh fishery products such as tuna, skipjack, lobster and seaweed in the country before being exported," he said.

He said China is now a potential market for fishery products with annual imports of one million tonnes of shrimp.